Textile spindles



Nov. 5, 1957 F. H.` SWEET TEXTILE SPINDLES Original Filed March 22, 1955 fz G 2 4- l la 8 /c l l il] Il 24 d x /l7 H. al I 4- INVENTOR.

xUnited States Patent TEXTILE SPINDLES Floyd H. Sweet, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Serial No. 495,875, March 22, 1955. This application June 11, 1956, Serial No. 590,744

7 Claims. (Cl. 57-77.45)

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 495,875 tiled March 22, 1955 (abandoned).

The invention as illustrated herewith is embodied in a known type of textile twisting spindle assembly or unit for use in making highly elastic yarn stock, particularly from synthetic materials. An example of said known type of spindle unit is shown in W. Whitehead Patent 2,089,239, dated August l0, 1937. Two such suitably mounted spindle units, each with a tubular blade or quill shaft, are customarily used in series for each strand of yarn or filament assembly; .and twist setting means are interposed between the pairs of serially operating units. One spindle unit is usually operated at a high rotational speed to impart a high degree of twist to the yarn (e. g. false twist) as it passes to the twist setting means, and the coacting unit operates beyond such means to remove at least some of the irst twist.

The twister spindle units are normally subjected to very light load, since the rotating blade or quill shaft does not have to support a bobbin or package of any kind. Consequently the twister spindle assembly hereof, as one requirement, has to be manufactured and sold at comparatively low cost. Nevertheless, due to the extremely high operating speeds currently demanded for high production, the quill shaft or hollow blade must be almost perfectly balanced and the supporting bearings must be such as to allow very free turning of the quill shaft and some compensating lateral movement thereof in event it has even the slightest amount of built-in unbalance resulting from practicable manufacturing tolerances. Further the bearings although preferably of the pre-lubricated type (supposed to be oiled for life) must or should be made readily accessible so that they may be re-oiled if such will prolong the life of the spindle assembly as a whole. The above discussion indicates the principal objects of the present invention. Other objects will be made apparent in the following description of the illustrated embodiments.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a longitudinal central section assembly view of the spindle unit in one form (mounting omitted). Fig. 2 is a detail elevational view of the quill shaft or hollow blade according to Fig. l (viewed at right angles to Fig. l). Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View showing the shaft and bearing assembly prior to insertion of that assembly into the housing or bolster case shown in Fig. l. (Fig. 3 shows alternatives for portions of the construction according to Fig. l, as will be described.) Fig. 4 is a detail or partial assembly View showing a further alternative in construction.

The spindle unit A, Fig.V l, comprises, principally, a case or housing 1, made for example as a tubular metal casting with an integral mounting ange 2 and with conventional clamp-nut supporting threads 3; a quill shaft or tubular blade 4 having 1a through axial bore 4'; a dust cap or cover 5 fixed to the quill shaft close to the top of the housing 1; a bearing spacer and positioner sleeve e; and and lower bearings or bearing assemblies ice 7 and 8 respectively, of known pre-lubricated type. The inner race rings 10 of the bearing assemblies are tightly (in effect permanently) secured to the quill shaft 4, as by press fitting or equivalent operations (further described later).

The inner ball race members or rings 16 of the two bearings or bearing assemblies 7 and 8 are operatively identical as are the two outer ball race members 11; and each assembly has oil sealing means and balls, neither shown. The sealing means of each bearing assembly 7 and 8 includes, in effect, one or more self-closing oil ports not shown) through which a small quantity of lubricant can be injected to the balls and their race grooves through use of a hollow needle inserted into the ports in a well known manner. The oil ports are exposed axially of the bearing assemblies 7 and 8 (usually on both end faces of the assemblies), and are rendered accessible for replenishment of lubricant when the permanently effected assembly B, comprising the quill shaft 4, bearings 7 and 8, positioner sleeve 6 etc. (one form of the assembly B shown in Fig. 3), is removed from the case l.

The upper bearing or bearing assembly 7 has an elastic (preferably oil resistant elastomer) cushion ring 15 of uniform channel shaped cross section providing a web 15 and paired flanges 15". The elastic ring 15 is stretched over the outer race ring 11 so as to demountably grip it snugly, radially and axially, and, when in place, the outer cylindrical surface of the elastic ring 15 snugly tits the cylindrical interior surface 17 defining the main axial bore of case l. The upper end of bore surface 17 is shown as flared or bell mouthed to assist in the operation of inserting the assembly B into the casing 1.

The lower bearing assembly 3, as shown, has around it an elastic ring 16 which can be identical with the elastic ring 15 as described above and be radially snug in the associated portion of the main boreV or bore surface 17 of case 1. The lower flange 16 of elastic ring 16 rests on a shoulder 17 dening the lower end of bore 17. When the permanent assembly B, Fig. 3, is in place in case 1, that assembly is secured in position, preferably by a set screw 2t), Fig. l, in a radial threaded hole through the wall of the case intersecting bore 17. The set screw 20 is jammed against the sleeve 6 which is strong enough to resist partial collapse; and the sleeve 6 can thereafter be adjusted and re-secured (through bodily axial repositioning of assembly B etc.) if such is found necessary.

Positioner sleeve 6 is designed to slide freely into and out of the bore 17 of case 1 when the set screw 20 is in sleeve-releasing position (not shown). Bore 17 is substantially smooth and the operation of inserting the assembly B thereinto, despite tendency to cold flow on part of the elastic components, can be facilitated by use of a lubricant selected to have no detrimental elfect on the elastic material of rings 15 and 16. If, after a long period of service, the assembly B is removed from the case 1 (e. g. in order to enable lubrication or inspection of the various parts) it is best to replace both elastic rings 15 and 16 with new ones.

The material for the upper cushioning ring 15 is selected especially for elasticity, hence vibration-damping and quillshaft-centering action in event of built-in unbalance of the live spindle assembly. The lower ring 16 can, advantageously, be selected principally for toughness (i. e. if the ring 16 is of full channel cross section as shown, then with only suiiicient elasticity to enable stretching of the ring over the race member 11 of the associated bearing assembly 8). Thereby the burden of vibrationdamping and quill-shaft-centering is bourne principally by the upper bearing mount while the lower ring 16, through operative abutment with sleeve 6 and shoulder lf," maintains ,the entire assembly B in position axially of the case and without having the locking means (sleeve 6) in contact with any metal part of the shaft and bearing assembly.

As an alternative for the above described lower cushion ring 16 (see Fig. 4), the upper flange thereof (Figs. 1 and 3) can be omitted. In that case the'lower cushion ring can be inserted into place in bore `17 prior to insertion of the rest of lassembly B. Thereby, when the lower cushion ring 16a, Fig. 4, is in place the dimension from the top surface of lower ange 1617 to the top of the case 1 can be easily checked against the corresponding distance (on assembly B) from the lower surface of the lower bearing member 11 to the dust cap 5 to make sure that the dust cap will adequately clear the top of the case yet notbe too far distant on final or complete assembly of the spindle unit A. The ring 16a of L- shaped cross section is internally chamfered at 16C better to receive the associated race member 11 of the live spindle assembly. The positioner sleeve 6 normally makes assembly-positioned contact with the top edge of the modified lower cushion ring 16a and not with the top of the outer race member 11 of bearing 8 such as could result in binding of the ball and race elements of that bearing. Nevertheless since the wall thickness of the sleeve 6 is greater than the wall thickness of the cushion ring 16a, as clearly shown, the lower edge or end -surface of the sleeve 6 overhangs the radially outermost top surface of the associated race ring 11, and thereby limits upward movement of the bearing 8, hence the live spindle assembly, to a very small amount. Ring 16a is preferably made for example from elastomer selected for toughness, oil resistance and, in general, stability' rather than springiness or elasticityv such as principally characterizes the material of the upper cushion ring 15. Further ring 16a can be cemented or bonded for example to casing 1.

In the arrangement according to Figs. l and 2 the dust cover is spot welded or otherwise fusion-fastened to the shoulder 22 on the quill shaft while the dust cover and quill shaft are accurately held in concentric relationship by suitable fixtures. Then upper bearing assembly 7 is (e. g.) pressed onto the cylindrical portion 24 (see Fig. 2) of the quill shaft to precisely located position through use of external limit stops not shown; the sleeve V6 is next applied, and thcn the lower bearing assembly Sis (e. g.) pr-essed onto shaft surface 25 against a locating stop shoulder 26 of the shaft. The axial distance between stop shoulder 26 and the under side of the dust cover 5 is held within close manufacturing limits to insure that the dust cover will never touch the top rim of the case 1 while being suiciently close thereto for exclusion of foreign matter from the case 1 during operation of the spindle.

In Fig. 3 the dust cover 5a has an inner, die-formed tubular neck portion 28 which is (e. g.) pressed over the quill shaft cylindrical surface portion 24. The lower rim of neck 28 serves as a stop shoulder for the upper race 10 in the operation of (e. g.) pressing the upper bearing assembly 7 onto the quill shaft 4. The spot or similar welding operation (described in reference to Figs. l and 2) is unnecessary when the arrangement according to Fig. 3 is used.

If the positioner sleeve 6 is a continuous ring, as suggested by Fig. l, then the self sealing oil ports (not shown) of the two bearing assemblies 7 and 8 must 'be located on the end faces of the bearing assemblies which lie remotely of each other in order to be rendered accessible upon removal of assembly B from case 1. Further the oil ports of the upper bearing assembly 7 are not even then very easily accessible, as is apparent, being shrouded by the dust cover 5. Fig. 3 shows the positioner Vsleeve 6a made as a rolled up strip of sheet metal of suitable shape (e. g. C-shaped at one end, orE-shaped -if desired) wherebytoprovide a suitable window openingor openings 30 through which the lubricant applicator needle (not shown) 4can easily be introduced for oiling both bearing assemblies 7 and 8. The sleeve 6a is so designed that end portions of the strip, as at locations 31 and 32 (spaces exaggerated) can come into mutual abutment in order to avoid distortion of the sleeve out of circular shape byoperation of the sleevesecuring set screw 20.

The portion of the quill shaft 4 which extends upwardly from'the casingl lhas a portion 35 which, as shown, is entirelycylindrical thereby providing a smooth peripheral surface adapted for engagement by a driving band or tape. The upper end of the whorl-forming portion 35 is provided with'a free turning smooth flanged roller 36, of known construction, about which roller the yarn is passed one or more turns to impart the necessary twist to the yarn through rotation of the quill shaft. The axis of the roller 36, as shown, intersects the axis of the bore 4 of the'quill shaft. Thereby the roller 36 does not require a counterbalance.

The manner of mounting of the above described spindle unit A on -a textile machine, as well as the manner of operation of the unit, will be understood by those skilled in the art, without requirement of description herein. Further the application of the present invention to a spindle construction Ywherein the live spindle assembly is adapted demountably to support a bobbin will be evident to persons skilled in lthe art.

Referring further to Fig. l, the quill shaft and bearing positioner and locking sleeve 6 is shown in axially slightly spaced relationship-to the cushioning rings 15 and 16 of both bearing assemblies 7 and 8. Actually, since the sleeve 6 is preferably manufactured with such external diameter as to enable the sleeve to drop freely into the bore 17 of the case 1, the sleeve would'usually rest upon the top flange of the lower cushion ring 16 (or upon the top rim 0f the lower cushion ring in the alternative construction, Fig. 4, wherein that ring has no top flange). In any event the sleeve 6 (or 6a), when secured by t. e set screw 2t), holdsfthe quill shaft 4 and parts which rotate with it in the desired axial position in the case 1, without likelihood or restriction of free rotary movement o f the quill shaft; yet the arrangement enables ready removal of assembly B as a unit, simply as a result of intentional loosening of the set screw 20, and also enables replacement and locking of the assembly B into any efectually adjusted position, i. e. not necessarily its original position in the case.

I claim:

1. A textile spindle unit of the type comprising a tubular casing adapted to be supported in generally upright position on a textile machine, the casing having a main axial bore defined in part by an axial shoulder at the effective lower end of the bore, a live spindle assembly rotatable in said bore, said live spindle assembly comprising a shaft having a portion extending upwardly out of the casing,said portion having a circular peripheral surface adapted for frictional engagement with a driving tape or band, two self contained antifriction bearings for the shaft, each comprising an inner and an outer race ring and interposed rolling elements, the inner race rings being permanently secured rigidly to the shaft in spaced relationship to each other axially of the shaft, and relatively resilient cushion rings embracing respective outer bearing race rings and being snugly embraced by said mam bore surface of the casing, the cushion ring of the lower 'bearing lying against said shoulder; particularly characterized by provision of an axially rigid live-spindleassembly-positioner member in the casing and having tubular end portions in axial alignment with respective cushion-rings, close thereto, for positioning abutment therewith, andlocking means carried by the casing and frictionally engaging thepositioner member to hold the live spindle assembly -in laxially 'adjusted position in the 'casing such -that -'-all rotatable portionsof'said assembly 'are out-of contact with.the-easing. Y

2. The textile spindle unit according to claim l, where in the positioner member is a metal sleeve slip-fitting said main casing bore, and the locking means is a set screw in a threaded opening intersecting said main casing bore adjacent an imperforate wall portion of the metal sleeve.

3. The textile spindle unit according to claim 2 wherein the bearings are prelubricated sealed ball bearing units, each with an oil port exposed axially within the metal sleeve, and the metal sleeve has a lateral window opening between its ends for enabling access to the oil ports of both bearings.

4. The textile spindle unit according to claim 3, wherein the metal sleeve is a rolled up strip of sheet metal, circumferential edge portions of which, at the two ends of the sleeve, are approximately in abutment to enable the sleeve to resist the locking force of the set screw against its wall without likelihood of causing substantial distortion of the sleeve, other circumferential edge portions of the sleeve being circumferentially spaced apart to provide the window opening.

5. In a textile spindle unit adapted for use in upright position, a live spindle shaft and a tubular casing for the shaft, the casing having an axial generally cylindrical main bore effectively terminating downwardly in an annular shoulder and being open at the top within an annular rim portion of the casing, upper and lower ball bearing units in said bore, one operatively bearing against said shoulder to support the shaft in the casing, the shaft having a relatively enlarged whorl portion above said rim portion, defined in part by a downwardly facing annular shoulder on the shaft, a disc-like metal dust cover shrouding said rim portion, the dust cover having an annular cylindrical integral neck portion tight on a reduced diameter portion of the shaft below said downwardly facing shoulder and holding the top side of the dust cover against said shoulder of the shaft, the upper bearing unit having an inner race ring for antifriction elements, the ring being in interference fitting relation to the shaft and located axially thereon by the lower end of said neck portion of the dust cover, and the lower bearing unit having a similar inner race ring in interference fitting relation to a further reduced diameter lower end portion of the shaft, the lower inner race ring upwardly abutting a second downwardly facing annular shoulder on the shaft, and means on the casing functioning to secure the bearing units in proper axial position in said main bore of the casing.

6. A textile spindle unit of the type comprising a tubular casing adapted to be supported in generally upright position on a textile machine, the casing having a main axial bore defined in part by an axial shoulder at the effective lower end of the bore, a live spindle assembly rotatable in said bore, said live spindle assembly comprising a shaft having a portion extending upwardly out of the casing, said portion having a circular peripheral surface adapted for engagement with a driving tape or band, two self contained antifriction bearings for the shaft, each comprising an inner and an outer race ring and interposed rolling elements, the inner race rings being permanently secured rigidly to the shaft in spaced relationship to each other axially of the shaft, a relatively resilient cushion ring of channel shaped cross section embracing the upper outer bearing race ring and being snugly embraced by said main bore surface of the casing, another cushion ring of Lshaped cross section around and underlying the outer race ring of the lower bearing and with the leg portion of the L against said shoulder, the upright portion of the L. projecting slightly above the adjacent upwardly facing surface of its associated outer bearing ring, an axially rigid live-spindle-assemblypositioner sleeve in the casing and having its lower end portion in abutment with the upwardly projecting portion of said L-shaped cushion ring While being maintained thereby normally out of contact with the associated top surface of the lower outer race ring, a downwardly facing rigid surface portion of the sleeve inwardlyoverhanging said lower outer race ring for emergency abutment therewith in case of upward movement of said race ring with the live spindle assembly during operation of the spindle unit, and releasable locking means carried by the casing and operating to hold the sleeve in fixed position in the casing.

7. The textile spindle unit according to claim 6, wherein the lower cushion ring is of non-metallic material selected for toughness and having considerably less elasticity than the material of which the upper cushion ring is composed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,642 Magrath Aug. 18, 1936 2,573,081 Winslow Oct. 30, 1951 2,609,254 Harris Sept. 2, 1952 

